I'm scheduled to drive about 1000 miles on Tuesday with approximately 1000 pounds on the flatbed and towing about 5000.

Today I was driving with this exact load, and when I hit the brakes (a little hard) I got some reasonably intense smoke from the left rear wheel. When I got out to check it out, the drum was VERY hot, and the brake smell was intense.

I've already done some searching on the forum and read about 1-ton brake upgrades and the proper method for removing the drums. Even though I think that upgrading to 1-ton brakes would be great considering my usage patterns, I don't think this is the time for me to tackle this project. I'm not quite sure at this point how much of this I'm going to try to handle on my own, considering I don't have tons of time or all my tools.

What I'm wondering is: from what this sounds like, what do you all think I should expect? Is it possible to overheat your brakes, even if the pads are still good? I haven't owned the truck all that long, and I thought the seller said he'd done the rear brakes recently. (I haven't ever opened them up to have a look) Or, considering these symptoms, have I totally toasted them? Should I be expecting drum damage?

I do have access to a few tools... And three auto parts stores (small town).... I think I'd have to go buy the 2 9/16" socket for the axle nut... Would you all try to tackle this yourselves?

Thanks a lot (in advance)

CR

 

I had a similar problem a number of years ago. Turned out that the emergency brake was not releasing completly. If memory serves me right the pivot arm in the rear brake assembly was all coroded. I cleaned the pivot arm and applied a small amount of anti seize and have had no problem since then. Simple way to check it is jack up the rear end and the wheels should spin with very little resistance. Yes you will need the big socket. Don't forget the rear wheel bearings are lubed by oil from the rear end. So when you are finished with the brakes and the axles and wheels are installed, be sure to first jack one side of each rear wheel up and then the other to allow oil to flow from the rear end to the wheel bearings. You may also have to top up the rear end with oil.

 

How long did you hit the brakes for? If they smoked that quickly, something is not right. If only one side smoked, that could mean that the opposite side is adjusted too loose and so the other side gets to do all the work. Check for a leaky grease seal on both sides...any gear lube contamination will cause havoc back there. The 2-9/16'' is a good investment and I would definitely go to the trouble of pulling the drums off right where you're at, for safety's sake. It won't take too long and it's a good chance to check those rear wheel bearings. Just make sure you've got a dandy of a jackstand--sounds like you've got some serious weight on the back of your truck!

 

sounds like the parkingt brake is jammed or adjutment is off
play with parking brake a bit and go under truck pull on the cables to see if it releases if its not that try loosening the brakes manually with a big flat screwdriver if you check on drum theres a rubber blocking a peep hole adjusting wheel is under there if i remember correctly if you make it go clockwise you tighten cunter you loosen hope this helps a little

i wouldnt takle the brake job if your stuck somewhere if your home thats not too hard of a job i did it myself too bad i only found out of that 1 ton upgrade thing after

 

Well here's the follow-up on that story:

I woke up realizing I had too much to do and the weather was too crappy for me to tackle this myself in one day with no tools. I took the truck to a friend-recommended garage to have it checked out.

The mechanic opened it up and told me that the brakes on the left side had fallen apart at some time and some piece of metal had gouged a groove into the drum. On the right side, the seal was completely blown and the brakes were soaked in 90-weight oil. Apparently whoever looked at the brakes last decided that instead of replacing the seal, he'd just adjust the brakes on the right so far in that they didn't contact at all. So all my rear braking was on the left side only, on a gouged drum. I guess that's what the seller meant when he told me he'd "done the brakes!"

I got both drums turned, new seals, and new shoes, all of which were 1-ton upgrade items, all for $275! The brakes worked great on my 1000 mile journey with 6000 pounds of cargo.

I'm really glad I had someone else do it, to tell the truth!

CR

 

Cool, glad it worked out for ya!

 

That's a great price for all that labor---glad it worked out!

 

Guess who gets the LUCKY DOG pass for the day!!


anyone seen that ounce of prevention anywhere........ I know I had it yesterday

 

Good to hear that you made it back home safely.